Saturday, Oct. 7:
Four Wavertree Stables Graduates raced their way into Keeneland’s winner’s circle on Saturday including 2 first-time starters and a gutsy victress in the 11th race, The Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (G2).
First time starter BERGEN (’21 c. Liams Map / Toni’s Hollyday) kicked things off with a hard driving score in the 2nd race, a 6 furlong MSW contest on the dirt. Sent off as the favorite of a field of 12 juveniles, the BRAD COX trainee had to swing out wide to charge down the stretch and prevail by ¾ of a length over the second place rival.
Bred by CASTLETON LYONS, KILBOY ESTATE and GALVIN TIERNEY, the grey colt was consigned by Wavertree on behalf of his breeders to the 2023 OBS April Spring Sale where he was purchased for $375,000 by BSW / CROW COLTS GROUP / GANDHARVI / SPENDTHRIFT FARM / SCHWARTZ. Bergen races for the partnership of SPENDTHRIFT FARM LLC, MARTIN SCHWARTZ, GANDHARVI LLC, BIG EASY RACING LLC, VINNERS WIN, JAMES J. BAKKE, TITLETOWN RACING LLC, KUEBER RACING LLC, GOLCONDA STABLE, ALI GOODRICH and MARK PARKINSON.
Three races later, it was NORMANDY HERO (’21 c. Omaha Beach / Swan of The Nile) who was getting his picture taken in the winners’ circle. Facing off against nine rivals in Keeneland’s fifth race, an AOC $100,000 going 6 furlongs over the dirt course, the talented two-year-old tracked the pace-setters before coming through on the rail to prevail by a length. Bred by YOSHIDA, BROCK, COLLINS, CRAWFORD, DOYLE and VANBEEK) and owned by NAOYA YOSHIDA. The RUDOLPHE BRISSET trained NORMANDY HERO has amassed a record of 4-2-0-0 with earnings of $93,488.
Next up in Keeneland’s seventh race, the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes, in which Wavertree grad YUGIRI (’19 f. Shackleford / Yuzuru) would take on six other fillies and mares going 6 furlongs on the dirt for a share of the $350,000 purse. Away sharply, YUGIRI dueled for the lead early under jockey FLAVIEN PRAT. Caught at the eight pole, the RUDOLPHE BRISSET trainee dug in under heavy pressure to nose-out the second-place finisher. Bred and owned by SEKIE YOSHIHARA and TSUNEBUMI YOSHIHARA, the multiple graded-stakes winning filly has won 7 out of 14 career starts and earned $1,190,585.
And to round out a fantastic day of winning efforts, another first time starter, BOOTH (’21 Mitole / Sophia’s Song), put in a dazzling gate-to-wire performance in the 11th race Saturday afternoon. Trained by STEVE ASMUSSEN the chestnut colt set all the fractions in the 6 furlong dirt contest for two-year-olds and was ridden-out to the finish by jockey RICARDO SANTANA, JR to post a 5 ½ length victory. Purchased by SUPERFINE FARMS for $120,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September Sale, the colt was consigned by Wavertree to the 2023 OBS March Sale where he was acquired by WILLIAM and CORRINE HEILIGBRODT and JACKPOT FARM for $225,000. BOOTH races for the HEILIGBRODTS, JACKPOT FARM and WHISPERING OAKS FARM LLC.
Thanks to all of these talented runners and their connections for providing us here at Wavertree a thrilling day of racing at historic Keeneland Racecourse. We wish them all much continued success!
